Technology keeps advancing, and businesses must keep up with the changes to enhance their activities and remain ahead of competitors. In the world of web and app development, PWA has revamped things. Are you curious about what PWA means and how beneficial it can be for your business? This guide details everything about PWA, from its description to its benefits. Take a look!
What is PWA?
PWA stands for Progressive Web Applications. Alex Rusell, a Google engineer, first coined the term PWA in 2015. It refers to websites that utilize manifests, progressive technology, service workers, and other web-based features to behave like mobile apps.
A PWA can work offline, send push notifications, and access the device’s hardware. That way, the PWA can be described as a web application that loads like regular websites. Examples of WPA include Pinterest, Twitter, TikTok, etc.
7 Benefits of PWA Applications
Progressive web applications combine features of native apps and websites. Whether you prefer outsourcing the technology or having your IT team build the PWA for your business, a PWA offers the below benefits.
1.They Work Offline
Customers enjoy the convenience of using an application offline; it saves them on cost. A PWA offers offline navigation, so the user can still access some features and data even when the connection drops.
The offline navigation is achieved through caching of the data in the app. The caching is enhanced by service workers running in the background. Working offline adds to customer interaction and engagement with your goods and services as they can view cached data.
2.Lightweight
The best part about PWA is that it is lighter than a native app. Some PWAs are as light as 3 MB, yet some native apps can extend past 30 MB. Being lightweight adds to their offline mode and adds to the application’s compatibility, and anyone can use the PWA without the hassle of occupying space.
Moreover, the lighter the PWA, the lesser the data usage required. Making your business app, a PWA reduces the effort of users interacting with it.
3.Enhanced Performance
PWA utilizes service workers running in the background to guarantee enhanced performance. Users hate it when apps or websites take time to load. With PWA, you are sure that your application will load faster, saving users time.
PWA utilizes cached data to enhance quick navigation and loading. It gets better since a PWA can be added to your home screen for quick access. That way, users can conveniently access your business application. The more flexibility and increased application performance, the more likely you will get more traffic and sales.
PWA also grows traffic for your business as it can be optimized for SEO to help your business rank and gain more engagement and organic traffic to the website.
4.Cheaper Development Cost
PWAs are cross-platform; they can run on all devices. Therefore, you don’t need to develop different versions of your PWA. That way, it saves on the development cost and minimizes the requirements for developing the PWA for your business.
Compared to mobile apps, PWA is three times cheaper, depending on the speciation of your business. Ideally, you can easily outsource the PWA for your business or comfortably find someone on your team to develop it with a small budget.
PWA get designed and customized like mobile apps, although they are web applications. The PWA’s user interface is enhanced by combining the feel of a mobile and web application. That way, the user can interact with your PWA comfortably by downloading it online. You don’t need to source the PWA from Google Play Store or App Store.
Once downloaded, the PWA will have an icon similar to other applications. Also, the PWA doesn’t require manual updates. Everything is automatically done without interfering with the user’s access or usage of the PWA.
Furthermore, it is possible to implement a PWA on your business website instead of developing a separate native mobile app. This feature saves on development costs.
5.Access to Hardware Resources
PWA utilizes the device’s hardware features, such as push notifications. That way, developers can control how they implement these mobile features and tailor them as a marketing strategy and enhance sales.
Besides, the PWA can utilize other features, such as GPS, to capture user data for analysis and other marketing goals. Also, PWA can work with other apps to offer integrations that work towards the success of your business, such as integrating with payment apps.
This integration with other apps makes it possible to use your PWA to enhance your business activities. For instance, some PWA apps are designed to offer alternative ways of logging in, such as using a Google account or social media account that integrates with the PWA.
6.PWA Doesn’t Require Distribution Platforms
When developing an app and pushing it to distribution platforms like Google Play or App Store, various metrics must be adhered to. Failing to meet these requirements can make your app to be rejected, meaning your customers won’t access it.
Luckily, PWAs don’t need these distribution platforms. A user can seamlessly visit your business’s website, download your PWA, and then directly install it on their device. Doing so ensures that your application is available anytime, as its distribution is free.
7.PWAs are Secure
PWA employs the encrypted HTTP protocol to protect data. HTTPS ensures your PWA is safeguarded against malicious attacks and breaches. Users are concerned about their security and likely to interact with your PWA more when guaranteed that their data is secure.
The HTTPS protocol protects the PWA against content tampering and snooping when browsing and performing other activities.
Conclusion
Progressive web applications are a new trend that combines the features of mobile apps with a website to offer web applications that behave and feel like native apps. PWAs enhance business in different ways thanks to their features, such as enhanced performance, seamless installation, security, cheaper development cost, etc. This guide has covered all details about the benefits of PWA applications.